title: Epidemiology of constipation in children and adults: a systematic review.
abstract: We aimed to review the published literature regarding the epidemiology of constipation in the general paediatric and adult population and to assess its geographic, gender and age distribution, and associated factors. A search of the Medline database was performed. Study selection criteria included: (1) studies of population-based samples; (2) containing data on the prevalence of constipation without obvious organic aetiology; (3) in paediatric, adult or elderly population; (4) published in English and full manuscript form. Sixty-eight studies met our inclusion criteria. The prevalence of constipation in the worldwide general population ranged from 0.7% to 79% (median 16%). The epidemiology of constipation in children was investigated in 19 articles and prevalence rate was between 0.7% and 29.6% (median 12%). Female gender, increasing age, socioeconomic status and educational level seemed to affect constipation prevalence.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States. suzanne.mugie@nationwidechildren.org
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Mugie
authors.forename: Marc A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Benninga
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Lorenzo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003248:Constipation / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult